University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Finish 2018 As National Runners-Up

Sooners Finish 2018 As National Runners-Up

April 21, 2018 | Women's Gymnastics

2nd
oklahoma
198.0375
  • 1
    Minnesota
    198.075
  • 3
    Florida
    197.8500
  • 4
    LSU
    197.8375
  • 5
    BYU
    196.9000
  • 6
    Utah State
    196.8000
Team Scores
  Vault Bars Beam Floor
UCLA 49.2250 49.6375 49.7500 49.4625
OU 49.4875 49.5375 49.4250 49.5875
Florida 49.4125 49.5375 49.3375 49.5625
LSU 49.4625 49.4750 49.3875 49.5125
Utah 49.0750 49.2875 49.3500 49.1875
Nebraska 49.300 48.8250 49.2750 49.4000
High Scores
Event Gymnast Score
Vault Sienna Crouse 9.9625
Bars Peng-Peng Lee 10.0000
Beam Peng-Peng Lee 10.0000
Floor Maggie Nichols 9.9625
OU Team Highs
Event Gymnast Score
Vault Maggie Nichols 9.9375
Bars Maggie Nichols 9.9625
Beam Nichols, Webb 9.9125
Floor Maggie Nichols 9.9625

ST. LOUIS An incredible season came to a heartbreaking end Saturday night as the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team finished as the runner-up at the 2018 NCAA Super Six in St. Louis.

The Sooners recorded a team score of 198.0375 but were bested by UCLA's 198.0750 as the Bruins won the meet with a 10.0 from Peng-Peng Lee on beam in the final rotation. For the 10th time this season, the Sooners finished with a score of 198.000 or better.

“Honestly we did everything that we could,” OU head coach K.J. Kindler said. “We handled that really tough rotation, first rotation on balance beam. Everyone responded when we had that mistake and did the best routines that they have ever done. We just kept fighting all through the meet. We've been in a couple of close meets this year and we fought through it and it felt just like that against UCLA and against Florida. We've been there before, and they never gave up. At the end of the day it just wasn't quite enough.”

Oklahoma posted scores of 49.5875 on floor, 49.5375 on bars, 49.4875 on vault and 49.4250 on beam during the Super Six. The Sooners have earned six consecutive top-3 finishes at the NCAA Championships.

OU finished the 2018 season with a 30-2 record and set plenty of records along the way, including its 10 scores of 198.000 or better in a season. The Sooners posted an RQS of 198.120, an NCAA record, becoming the first team to have a regional qualifying score made up entirely of marks of 198 or better.

“Obviously I am super proud of these ladies,” Kindler said. “But when you set the standard so high, they are disappointed. They wanted it. They worked for it. I mean it is hard to explain to them why they didn't get it, but you have to get it right on the right day. We were just a hair short.”

Starting with the same rotation from the semifinals on Friday night, the Sooners bested their score on beam with a 49.4250. Senior Stefani Catour posted a strong 9.8750 in the leadoff spot and sophomore Bre Showers followed with a 9.8750 of her own to get the Sooners off to a solid start. Senior Natalie Brown wrapped up her OU career with a 9.8500 in the No. 4 spot. Freshman Anastasia Webb and sophomore Maggie Nichols anchored with identical 9.9125s to put the Sooners in the lead after one rotation.

After a bye, the Sooners came out on floor with an incredible fire. Matching their Friday night score of 49.5875, the Sooners used three scores of 9.9 or higher for a 99.0125 after three rotations. Showers led off once again, posting a 9.8750 on a gorgeous routine. Freshman Evy Schoepfer had a solid night in the No. 2 spot, posting a 9.8875, including receiving a 9.95 from one judge. With her powerful tumbling on display once again, junior Brenna Dowell recorded a 9.9375 in the No. 3 spot. Webb added a solid 9.925 in the No. 2 spot while Nichols anchored with an incredible 9.9625.

The Sooners carried their momentum to vault, besting their Friday night score with a 49.4875. With four 10.0 start values in the lineup, OU utilized its strengths to extend its lead. Junior Nicole Lehrmann started OU off strong with a 9.8500, followed by a 9.8375 from Showers. Dowell was clutch with her stuck landing on her Yurchenko 1.5 for a team-high 9.9375. Sophomore Jade Degouveia set her career high with a 9.900 in the No. 5 spot. Nichols capped the event, matching Dowell with a 9.9375 of her own.

Down to the final rotation and with a slim lead, the Sooners would fight to the finish. Webb led off with a 9.8500, followed by a career-high 9.900 from Showers. In her final routine as a Sooner, Catour was elegant as always, posting a 9.8875 in the No. 3 spot. Dowell added a 9.9125, followed by Lehrmann's 9.8750. Nichols anchored with a 9.9625, receiving two 10s from the judges to cap off an incredible meet.

FORGED: Episode 1
Sunday, September 21
FORGED: Episode 2
Saturday, September 20
FORGED: Episode 3
Friday, September 19
WGYM National Championship Celebration
Monday, April 28